Sweetpeas Early Years Provision

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children develop exceptionally close friendships in this caring nursery. They begin playing as soon as they arrive, independently choosing from the enticing activities on offer. They are confident learners and highly motivated. Pre-school children demonstrate excellent fine motor skills as they use scissors to cut pretend stamps in their imaginative post office. They giggle and have fun pretending to post unusual items, such as their friends. They show considerable self-confidence in testing out their ideas. Babies excitedly explore the activities with the support of a familiar adult. They become immersed in their play as they sprinkle seeds in the play dough. They eagerly experiment with changing its shape using their hands, brushes and plastic tools.

Familiar routines help children to feel incredibly settled. Pre-school children thrive during carpet time activities. Staff skilfully build on children's knowledge, such as when teaching them how to recognise their names. Children are exceptionally confident in sharing their ideas. They excitedly tell the staff about their favourite colours, such as commenting on how much they love the colour magenta. Children's vocabulary development is superb.

Children take part in a rich set of experiences as part of an exciting curriculum. Staff organise high-quality visits from specialists throughout the year to develop children's interests, such as ceramic painting workshops. Children gain an excellent awareness of cultural diversity as they learn about festivals, such as Holi, Diwali and Chinese New Year, which are important to their friends in the nursery.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• Leaders have put in place an ambitious curriculum. There is a clear intent for the curriculum that is fully understood and promoted by all members of staff. Staff provide a vast number of daily activities, which are designed to comprehensively cover each of the children's next steps.
• Teaching is of a very high quality. Leaders regularly observe staff and provide frequent supervision throughout the year. They ensure staff take part in regular, personalised professional development. New staff work closely with leaders as part of a thorough induction process. Staff are passionate about giving children the best possible start in life.
• Leaders organise the nursery exceptionally well. The close-knit staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities and work dynamically alongside each other. The learning environment is exciting and purposeful, with a balance of indoor and outdoor play. They make highly effective use of the different spaces available. For example, children safely pick fruit with staff in the allotment area to eat at snack time.
• Children become deeply engaged in their play. Babies and toddlers delight as they use plastic tools to fill containers with sand in the 'woodland garden'. Older children immerse themselves in play with toys that challenge them, such as the coding toys.
• Children demonstrate a great love of stories, songs and music. Staff ensure there are an abundant number of books for children to look at. Babies and toddlers excitedly choose books to share with staff. Staff skilfully use stories and music to inspire children to learn.
• Staff have consistently high expectations of children. They promote children's independence as an integral part of the curriculum. Children relish the opportunity to help staff and each other. For instance, children tidy up their plates and cutlery at mealtimes. They also show a superb sense of responsibility as they conscientiously tidy away their allocated toys and equipment at the end of the day. Behaviour is exceptionally good.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive an excellent level of support. Staff quickly identify possible concerns and make swift referrals to other agencies. They develop excellent relationships with children and gently encourage them to take part in activities with other children. Leaders are extremely knowledgeable in supporting children with a variety of complex educational needs. As a result, children with SEND make rapid progress.
• Partnerships with parents are excellent. Staff organise special community events throughout the year to help parents become more involved in their children's learning, such as Easter egg hunts, sports days and Christmas concerts. Parents are glowing in their praise for staff and the outstanding progress their children make. They have particularly high regard for the owner who goes above and beyond to help them. She offers exceptional additional advice and support to parents for children's learning at home and even visits them in their homes if necessary.